Archive
OFFICER DOWN- Police Officer Alain Scharbarger
New York
End of Watch: Sunday, March 13, 2011
Biographical Info
Age: 42
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Assault
Date of Incident: Sunday, March 13, 2011
Weapon Used: Person
Suspect Info: Apprehended
Police Officer Alain Scharbarger was killed when he was
pushed off a stoop by a suspect he was attempting to arrest.
Officer Scharbarger and other officers responded to a call of a
domestic dispute in the Boerum Hill section of Brooklyn. When
they arrived, they were met by a female victim who told them
the suspect had threatened to kill her and that she had an
order of protection again the suspect. Additionally, she told
them that the suspect had run into his home.
Three officers, including Officer Scharbarger, responded to the
suspect’s home. The father of the suspect initially told officers
that his son was not home, but after additional questioning
admitted that his son was inside the house. The officers
entered the house and located the suspect. They removed
him from the house onto a stoop in front, where the victim
identified him.
The officers began to place the suspect under arrest and had a
handcuff on one wrist when a violent struggle ensued. The
suspect pushed Officer Scharbarger backwards with both
hands over a 21-inch railing, causing him to fall nine feet to
the sidewalk below. Officer Scharbarger struck his head and
fractured his neck.
Officer Scharbarger was taken to Lutheran Medical Center
where he died from his injuries.
The suspect was arrested at the scene after being tasered by
other officers.
Officer Scharbarger had served with the New York City Police
Department for 10 years and had previously served with the
United States Navy. He was assigned to the 84th Precinct.
Agency Contact Information
New York City Police Department
1 Police Plaza
Room 1320
New York, NY 10038
Phone: (646) 610-6700
Please contact the New York City Police Department for funeral arrangements or for survivor benefit fund information.
Information on this memorial is preliminary. A final determination on line of duty status may be made at a future date.
OFFICER DOWN- Police Officer Geoffrey Breitkopf
New York
End of Watch: Saturday, March 12, 2011
Biographical Info
Age: 40
Tour of Duty: 12 years
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Accidental)
Date of Incident: Saturday, March 12, 2011
Weapon Used: Officer’s handgun
Suspect Info: Not available
Police Officer Geoffrey Breitkopf was accidentally shot and killed after being mistaken for a suspect by another police officer.
Officers from the Nassau County Police Department and an officer from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department responded to a call in Massapequa Park of a man running through the neighborhood armed with several knifes. After locating the suspect, they chased him on foot into a house, where the suspect barricaded himself inside a room. The officers removed the other occupants of the house and were inside when the suspect exited and charged at the officers with a knife in his hand. The officers shot and killed the suspect.
Officer Breitkopf, who was in plainclothes, responded to back-up the officers. He arrived at the scene just after the suspect had been shot and killed, but was himself mistaken for a suspect, and shot by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority police officer at the scene.
Officer Breitkopf was taken to Nassau University Medical Center where he died from his wound.
Officer Breitkopf had served with the Nassau County Police Department for 12 years. He was assigned to the Bureau of Special Operations.
Agency Contact Information
Nassau County Police Department
1490 Franklin Avenue
Mineola, NY 11501
Phone: (516) 573-7000
Please contact the Nassau County Police Department for funeral arrangements or for survivor benefit fund information.
Information on this memorial is preliminary. A final determination on line of duty status may be made at a future date.
Bryan TX. police officer charged with exposing self at mall www.privateofficer.com
College Station TX March 13 2011 A Bryan police officer is on paid administrative leave following his arrest Thursday on a charge of indecent exposure.
Adam Lamar Brooks is accused of exposing his genitals in the Post Oak Mall parking lot last November.
Police were unable to locate anyone November 4th, 2010 after a witness told mall security a man was exposing himself in the parking lot. The witness described the suspect, the make and model of his vehicle, and the vehicle’s personalized license plate.
According to court records, on February 24 mall security saw the suspect’s vehicle which had the same plates being operated in a suspicious manner. College Station Police stopped the suspect, the patrolman learned of the November incident, and Brooks was issued a criminal trespass warning to stay off mall property.
On Monday, March 7, court records stated Brooks was interviewed by College Station Police. Brooks first denied the allegations then later told the officer he exposed himself several times at the mall. Brooks told the officer he wasn’t doing it to hurt anyone.
Brooks, 42, was placed on paid administrative leave on Tuesday, March 8. The eight-year Bryan PD veteran was arrested Thursday morning. As of Thursday afternoon Brooks was in the Brazos County Jail in lieu of a $5,000 bond.
Indecent exposure is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
Source:WTAW
Police say pot growers had Wally guarding their operations www.privateofficer.com
Hemet CA March 13 2011 California narcotics investigators raiding a home’s $1.5million marijuana growing operation found an alligator guarding the stash.
A Riverside County drug task force team moved in on the Hemet-area house on Monday night and seized 2,285 pot plants. Allied Riverside Cities Narcotics Enforcement Team Cmdr. Brian Link says agents also found Wally, a four-foot alligator.
The healthy 55-pound American alligator has been turned over to Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary. Alligators are illegal in California.
The Riverside Press-Enterprise says John Nathan Donna has been arrested and booked for investigation of marijuana cultivation and possession. He was released Tuesday on $100,000 bail.
Pueblo Convention Center security officer assaulted www.privateofficer.com
Pueblo CO March 13 2011 A security guard at the Pueblo Convention Center was assaulted and blasted with pepper spray on Tuesday. The incident happened about 8:30 p.m., according to Pueblo police officer J. Medina.
A 24-year-old security guard was outside smoking a cigarette when a man walked up and punched her in the stomach, the head and then blasted her with pepper spray.
The suspect is described as a black man with tattoos on his arms and with a “fade” haircut. He is of medium height and wore blue jeans and black shoes, Medina said.
A woman who aided the security guard after the assault later reported her cell phone stolen. While attending to the victim she called police and discovered her phone missing after she left it on a lobby exhibit in the convention center.
Houston grand jury declines to indict security officer in bank robbery shooting www.privateofficer.com
Mitchell Bettin, a 20-year veteran of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, was the armed security guard during a Sept. 14 holdup at the Preferred Bank on Stuebner Airline near Worcester in Spring.
Two robbers, with guns drawn, entered the lobby and demanded money. Bettin exchanged gunfire with them and was hit in the hand, a sheriff’s office spokeswoman reported. His injuries were not life-threatening.
The off-duty deputy hit one of the suspects in the leg. That man, later identified as Jerome Goody, was arrested after seeking treatment at LBJ Hospital, authorities said. Harris County grand jurors on Thursday decided that Bettin did not commit a criminal act in discharging his weapon during the incident.
Goody, 24, remains in the Harris County jail charged and indicted with aggravated assault against a public servant, aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Ohio State Trooper fired for throwing peanuts at security www.privateofficer.com
Cleveland OH March 13 2011 A former Highway patrol Trooper of the Year has lost his job.
Thirty Four year-old Jason Fantone of Austintown was let go by the Ohio State Highway patrol following an arrest during a Cleveland Browns game.
Fantone was arrested for allegedly throwing peanuts at stadium security officers during the Browns Steelers game and then broke the door of his holding cell.
Fantone agreed to enter a county prosecutor’s diversion program to avoid a grand jury indictment.
Source:wfmj
Virginia man sues after arrested for stripping at airport www.privateofficer.com
Richmond VA March 13 2011 The Virginia man who stripped to his underwear at a Richmond International Airport security checkpoint to protest security procedures has filed a lawsuit against federal and local authorities.
Aaron B. Tobey, a 21-year-old University of Cincinnati student from Charlottesville, took off his shirt and pants to reveal a message scrawled on his chest about the Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure. He was cited for disorderly conduct, but the charge was later dropped.
The lawsuit claims the Transportation Security Administration, Richmond police and airport officials violated his free-speech and Fourth Amendment rights with the Dec. 30 arrest.
Hawaii security officer ran over by fleeing shoplifters www.privateofficer.com
The security guard was chasing the women — ages 18, 19, and 44 — for shoplifting when the vehicle they were in hit him about 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, police said.
The man sustained minor injuries. Patrol units found the women and booked them on suspicion of robbery.
Texas Zoo adds night security guards with four legs www.privateofficer.com
VICTORIA, Texas March 13 2011 — For the Texas Zoo’s new night security guards, chasing off hungry raccoons and co-existing with squawking guinea hens are all just a part of a day’s work.
Sarge and Jazz, who are a brother and sister pair of Great Pyrenees, recently started their jobs as night security guards.
“They guard the zoo not from people coming, but they guard the animals from natural predators,” said Andrea Blomberg, zoo executive director. “It’s our job to keep the animals safe.”
Talks to bring in canine security guards started in early February when zoo staff met to discuss the influx of unwanted predators in the zoo, said Blomberg.
The zoo’s location in the middle of Riverside Park, left some animals vulnerable to attacks from snakes, bobcats and raccoons.
“Raccoons are opportunistic,” said Blomberg, who added the zoo lost two birds to predators in 2010. “They are going to go where they can find food.”
Taking a cue from the Austin Zoo, the decision was soon made to acquire guard dogs.
“We knew we couldn’t bring just any type of dog into the zoo,” said Blomberg. “We needed dogs that knew not to attack the animals that were supposed to be here and guard them.”
Zoo staff decided upon Great Pyrenees, who sleep all day, are bred and raised to guard livestock, and who also have an excellent demeanor around humans.
Not long after getting in contact with the Texas Great Pyrenees Rescue, Blomberg learned about Sarge and Jazz.
The furry, white siblings had been living on an Austin Ranch where they guarded turkeys.
Finalizing the adoption, however, was not an easy venture.
“We have always been leery about a company owning a dog,” said Becky Petrosky, vice president and Dallas/Fort Worth coordinator for rescue program. “It was because of who Andrea was. We felt very strong about the relationship she has with the dogs. All of those components helped to develop this situation.”
Sarge and Jazz, who will be 2 years old in May, arrived at the zoo on Feb. 22.
Their training consisted of learning their patrol routes as well as familiarizing themselves with the zoo’s inhabitants.
While the dogs will protect the guinea hens, peacocks and other smaller animals who reside in potentially vulnerable exhibits such as the lemurs and tamarins, they do not have to worry about protecting the larger animals such as the lions, tigers, baboons, who are all tucked away in their bedrooms at night.
“They are still adjusting,” said Blomberg. “But they know what their rounds are and what they are supposed to be protecting.”
She added, “We love having them around. They are big and fun to hug.”
Guarding the animals is not all work and no play for 100-pound Sarge and 70-pound Jazz.
When the dogs are not having staring contests with the goats, they entertain themselves with some of the other residents.
“I think the coyotes have fun teasing the dogs, running back and forth,” Blomberg chuckled.
The dogs will most likely not be seen by the general zoo public, as they sleep in the administrative building during the day and work after the zoo is closed to the public.
Petrosky is not only pleased that the dogs have found a new good home, but also that they are helping to get the word out about the rescue program.
“I know for a fact that they will be educating kids and adults alike in regards to the art of rescue, neutering and spaying and the Great Pyrenees breed, said Petrosky. Sarge and Jazz are excellent ambassadors of the Great Pyrenees breeds and TGPR.”
She added, “I’m excited about opening up people’s eyes to these dogs. They are great livestock dogs and they make great house pets.”
Source:AP
Man gets additional prison time for armored car robbery upon appeal www.privateofficer.com
William Merlino and three others were convicted in a plot to rob the Loomis-Fargo Armored Car facility in Easton in 1999. Merlino appealed his convictions. Federal prosecutors appealed a judge’s decision to acquit Merlino of carrying a grenade during a crime of violence.
Last year, a federal appeals court not only upheld Merlino’s conviction, but reinstated the grenade charge. That carried a mandatory minimum 30-year sentence.
On Friday, Judge Richard Stearns granted a recommendation by prosecutors to sentence Merlino to a total of 30 years on four charges against him. He will get credit for 12½ years he has already served.
Terre Haute police officer stabbed while working security job www.privateofficer.com
Terre Haute IN March 13 2011 Police are looking for a man who stabbed an officer working off-duty at the Village Quarter.
They describe the suspect as a white male, 30-40 years old, medium to heavy build, and he possibly frequents the Village Quarter and surrounding neighborhoods on a bicycle.
If you know about this person, call police at 812-238-1661.
Detective Greg Ferency, a 20-year veteran, was working security for the Village Quarter when he saw someone behind a dumpster that faces Poplar St. He got out of his car to check it out and that’s when he was stabbed.
Police are not sure what the guy was doing behind the dumpster, but it was enough to get Ferency out of his car to check it out. The suspect fled north on foot. Ferency fired two shots, but its not known if the suspect was hit.
URI melee lands 8 in jail www.privateofficer.com
SOUTH KINGSTOWN RI March 13 2011 — A melee at a dance at the University of Rhode Island Thursday night led to the arrest of eight people, Maj. Stephen Baker of the URI Police Department said. Fighting broke out inside and outside Memorial Union, where the student group PINK Women sponsored a dance, Baker said.
The trouble started at 11:40 p.m., Baker said, when the building reached its permitted capacity of 530 people.
“There were still 250 people outside who wanted to get in,” Baker said. “They were turned away and started to get unruly.”
The URI police had two officers on duty at the dance, Baker said, and called in a lieutenant and four other officers for help.
“They were dispersing that crowd,” Baker said. “But with the crowd inside, at 12:50 a.m., two males were hurt in a fight.”
A private security guard hired for the dance attempted to break up that fight, Baker said, and was “sucker punched by another male.”
That male ran out of the building, Baker said, and was arrested by the URI police.
Darien Heard, 20, of 69 Ayrault St., Providence, who is not a URI student, was arrested and charged with simple assault. He is to appear on the charge in District Court, South Kingstown, on March 30, Baker said.
Ten minutes after Heard was arrested, Baker said, fights began breaking out outside Memorial Union.
“All of our officers were on the scene and South Kingstown police responded with a lieutenant and three officers,” Baker said. “We spent the next half hour trying to break up fights and arresting individuals for disorderly conduct.”
During this time, Baker said, a portable radio of one of the URI officers was destroyed; and another officer’s police cell phone was stolen and his personal cell phone was broken “when an unknown suspect kicked him.”
Seven people were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and are to appear in District Court, South Kingstown, on March 30:
Marvin Moscoe, 21, of 82 Royal Drive, Freeport, N.Y., who is not a URI student.
Rocco Santopientro, 20, of 26 Myra St., Providence, who is a URI student.
Tamaseri Belle, 20, of 11 Elliot Ave., Dix Hills, N.Y., who is not a URI student.
Joshua Okolowitcz, 20, of 59 Petteys Ave., Providence, who is a URI student.
Maxwell Duncan, 20, of 95 Payton St., Providence, who is not a URI student, is to appear in District Court, South Kingstown, on March 16.
Marc Jones, 24, of 250 Gallatin St., Providence, who is not a URI student, who was also found to have an active bench warrant for failure to appear in court on a state police charge of driving on a suspended license, was arraigned Friday morning in District Court, South Kingstown.
“I think all the officers involved, URI and South Kingstown, did a good job in difficult circumstances,” Baker said.
The PINK Women organization at URI is a multicultural women’s group that, according to its URI website, is designed to “stress the importance of morals, ethics and education in our daily lives.”
The incident is still under investigation, Baker said, and there may be more arrests.
Source:projo.com
Parent arrested for assaulting school security officer www.privateofficer.com
GASTONIA, N.C. March 13 2011– A parent faces charges after he was accused of assaulting a security officer at a school.
Kenneth Hunter, 53, was charged with disorderly conduct, trespassing and assault on a school employee Thursday, police said.
Employees at Warlick School in Gastonia told police Hunter was asked to leave the school, but he got aggressive and purposely bumped into a security officer.
Hunter told the Gaston Gazette the situation was blown out of proportion and he was only trying to talk to school officials about his son.
“My shoulder just touched his shoulder, more or less,” Hunter said. “That’s all that happened.”
